Auntie Mame Interactive, Country Line Dance Lessons at Trunks, Wine Tasting at Bouschet, Wildlights at The Living Desert, The Best of the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs Art Museum, Mary Pickford Theatre, and a look ahead to New Year’s Eve and the Palm Springs International Film Festival, just around the corner. Plus HOT DEALS and Happy Hours!

Auntie Mame Interactive Movie Event

Join Among Friends for Auntie Mame Interactive on Thursday, December 26 from 6:00–10:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Come at 6:00 p.m. for the 1920’s themed cocktail party, dress like the characters in the movie or wear your holiday attire and enjoy multiple bars set up to serve you in style. At 8:00 p.m., the interactive version of Auntie Mame will be screened, coming alive with audience participation, live actions, and surprises! Get tickets

Dance Lessons at Trunks

Trunks Bar in Cathedral City presents a monthly western two-step dance lesson with Rob Ollander-Krane. On Saturday, December 28, learn shadow position (side by side), with lessons from 7:00–8:00 p.m. and open dancing to follow. More info

 

Saturday Wine Tastings at Bouschet

Bouschet is a specialty marketplace in Palm Springs offering a large selection of fine wines, liquor, craft beer, gourmet specialty foods, exquisite giftware, an amazing bistro menu, wine tastings, and special events, and this Saturday they have Preston Ahearn of Bonaccorsi Wines presenting library wines at their Saturday Wine Tasting from 4:00–5:30 p.m. Get tickets

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Wildlights at The Living Desert

Over a million twinkling lights dazzle at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens for Wildlights, running select nights through the holidays, (final night: Saturday, December 28) from 6:00–9:00 p.m. Guests will find holiday festivities, food, drink, arts and crafts, animal encounters, live entertainment, Santa Claus and more. Get tickets

Palm Springs Art Museum

This would be an excellent time to pay a visit to one or more of the Palm Springs Art Museum’s three locations!

The Palm Springs Art Museum on 101 Museum Drive in downtown Palm Springs features the latest exhibitions: Lino Tagliapietra: Il Deserto Fiorito and Alexander Girard: A Designer’s Universe. And don’t miss Touching History: Stonewall 50, running through March 29. The museum is open from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Fridays through Tuesdays, and 12:00–8:00 p.m. on Thursday (closed Wednesdays, plus Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve).

The Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, at 300 S. Palm Canyon Drive and open the same hours as the Art Museum (above), features the exhibit Barbara Stauffacher Solomon: Breaking all the Rules, closing December 31.

The Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert (at Hwy 111 and El Paseo) features the exhibit Imaging Change: History, Memory, and Social Justice, and this location is open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays (closed Mondays), and the beautiful Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden is always open!

Mary Pickford Theatre is D’Place for Movies

While we may have some of the best winter weather here in the desert, the days are still short and sometimes it’s cold or even rains–making it a great time to get comfy in the luxury recliner seats of the D’Place Entertainment Mary Pickford Theatre and take in a movie! Options playing now  include: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems, The live-action/CG screen version of the Broadway musical Cats, and the animated Will Smith film Spies in Disguise. More info

 

Best of 2019

Every year, Palm Springs Life invites readers to share their favorite restaurants, lodging, nightlife, shopping, services, arts and attractions for their Best of the Best listings, broken down by city:

Palm Springs – Desert Hot Springs – Cathedral City – Rancho Mirage – Palm Desert – Indian Wells – La Quinta – Indio & Coachella

Check it out to discover a new favorite, or revisit one you haven’t been in awhile!

LOOKING AHEAD

Top New Year’s Eve Celebrations in Greater Palm Springs

New Year’s Eve is Tuesday, December 31, 2019 and we’ve got the rundown on the hottest New Year’s Eve events to get your party on and ring in the new decade in our Top Celebrations article, featuring: Dance Through the Decades at Agua Caliente in Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage, Runway Bar & Restaurant‘s New Year’s Eve Celebration, Steel the Night at the Ace Hotel, Latin Jazz from Jazzville at Wang’s, Drag me to NYE at The Saguaro, Roaring into the 20’s at Chill Bar, NYE at Lulu & Acqua California Bistros, and the Mildly Wild New Year’s Eve Party at The Living Desert! Read more

Palm Springs International Film Festival is Just Around the Corner

Just as soon as we wrap up the holidays, the Palm Springs International Film Festival will bring the Hollywood spotlight to town from January 2–13, 2020 with glitz, glamour, and most of all, some great films. The showpiece event, the annual Film Awards Gala, will be held on Thursday, January 2 starting at 5:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Convention Center. A-List actors and directors being honored include: Jennifer Lopez, Martin Scorsese, Laura Dern, Joaquin Phoenix, Renée Zellweger, Charlize Theron, Antonio Banderas, plus awards going to up-and-comers Zack Gottsagen and Cynthia Erivo. Get Gala tickets

The Palm Springs International Film Festival is one of the largest film festivals in North America, welcoming over 135,000 attendees each year for its lineup of new and celebrated international features and documentaries. Produced by the Palm Springs International Film Society, the Festival offers 12 days of events and film screenings featuring over 200 films from 60+ countries, with screenings at venues in Palm Springs and Cathedral City. The full schedule is available online and passes are available for sale, as well as tickets to individual screenings, now on sale as of December 20! Get screening tickets

At Trunks Bar in Cathedral City, Happy Hour is 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. with well drinks for $4, domestic beer for $4, imported beer for $3, wines $1 off. It’s the kind of place “where everybody knows your name,” and don’t forget this Saturday, Dec. 28 it’s Two-Step Shadow Line Dancing Lessons from Rob Ollander-Krane at 7:00 p.m.! Get Happy at Trunks

 

Rio Azul Mexican Bar & Grill offers Happy Hour prices from 4–6:30 p.m. Mon-Thu and 2:00–6:00 p.m. Fri–Sun, with $5 house margaritas, house wine, draft & bottled beer, and well drinks! And the food is amazing–here’s an absolute must try: Homemade Enchiladas de Mole with raisins, plantains, fresh pineapple, onions and garlic. Try something new! Get Happy at Rio Azul

Confessions of a Mormon Boy, now playing in residence Tuesdays at Hotel Zoso, will be wrapping up its run at the end of January. Now is the time to experience “Mormon Boy” for yourself as award-winning storyteller Steven Fales shares his journey from being a devoted, sixth-generation Mormon, former missionary, and father of two to coming out as gay after trying conversion therapy and being excommunicated. With this HOT DEAL, Buy one $65.00 VIP table seat (Tuesday, January 7 performance) and get the seat next to you for FREE! Get Your Deal

 

Eight4Nine is a local favorite that is always in fashion in the Uptown Design District of Palm Springs. They offer a welcoming and friendly atmosphere for breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, or happy hour! Eclectic, tasteful, and affordable…Eight4Nine has something for everyone. Take advantage of this HOT DEAL for 40% off and get a $25 gift certificate for just $15! Get Your Deal

 

 

 

    1. A Chat With the PS International Film Fest’s Artistic Director, Coachella Valley Native Liliana Rodriguez
    2. 10 Can’t-Miss Entries at the Palm Springs Film Fest
    3. Modernism Week 2020 Announces Film Screenings and the Return of the Architecture and Design Film Series
    4. Stonewall Anniversary Sheds New Light On Old History
    5. Pucker Up: This is How One Gay Man Lost Control of His Fetish